is your determination?” _Jac._ “I have declared my faith to you, and
thereupon I have made my determination, until the contrary be proven
to me.” _Inq._ “I have proven it to you sufficiently; but you will
believe nothing but your fancy and obstinacy, and have forsaken the
holy church.” _Jac._ “My lord, I have not forsaken the holy church; for
if I had recognized your church as the holy church, I should not have
forsaken it, to join another.” _Inq._ “Nevertheless, though Satan has
thus deceived you, and you think that we are not the holy church, yet
it is the same that it has always been from the times of the apostles,
and been maintained through the holy teachers until the present time.”
_Jac._ “If it is the same church which existed at the time of the
apostles, it must have the same or like bishops and pastors as were
then.” _Inq._ “Yes, and so we have.” _Jac._ “Well then, my lord, show
me in your whole church only one bishop or pastor who is blameless
in doctrine and life, even as Paul, or Timothy, or Titus, and I will
follow him with all my heart.” _Inq._ “Have you such pastors among
you?” _Jac._ “My lord, you say that we are Satan’s congregation, and
that your church is the same which was in the time of the apostles;
hence show me those people, whereby I may know them.” _Inq._ “Where do
you think to find such? for they had the Holy Ghost, who is not given
now.” _Jac._ “Not! How comes it then, that Paul says that he that has
not the Spirit of God, is none of his?” Rom. 8:9. _Inq._ “This has
another meaning.” _Jac._ “My lord, what meaning?” _Inq._ “He there
speaks of those who do not walk after the Spirit.” _Jac._ “Well, for
what else do I ask you, than for bishops and pastors who walk and are
led by the Spirit of God, who are holy, just, vigilant, and blameless
in the doctrine, in life and conversation, as Paul teaches that they
must be.” _Inq._ “I could easily name; such bishops or pastors as are
blameless, but you do not know them.” _Jac._ “Where are they?” _Inq._
“In Italy and in Spain.” _Jac._ “Is the church of God there, and not
here?” _Inq._ “There is also a cardinal or bishop in England, who truly
is a man blameless in doctrine and conversation.” _Jac._ “My lord,
pray release me from these chains, and let me go, and I shall use all
diligence to get to him, to see whether it is true.”
He laughingly replied: “No, no; you must believe what is told you.”
_Jac._ “My lord, it is written: Cursed be the man that trusteth in man.
Jer. 17:5. Shall I depend upon your word alone?” _Inq._ “Do you think
that I lie?” _Jac._ “I do not say that: but I want to see it first
before I believe it.” Inq. “Yes, yes, but you cannot now.” Jac. “Since
I cannot see it, I cannot believe it either.” _Inq._ “Why will you pay
so much attention to their conversation, seeing they have the doctrine
of the apostles?” _Jac._ “This is yet to be proven to me, and it would
be difficult for you to prove to me by the Scriptures, that they have
the doctrine of the apostles.” _Inq._ “Nevertheless they have it; but
you are hardened, and cannot comprehend it.” _Jac._ “This assertion
lacks the support of the Scriptures, and if they are trees from the
roots of the apostles, show me the fruits, that I may know them.”
_Inq._ “Can you then know the faith by the works, whether it is good or
bad.” _Jac._ “My lord, our Master has taught us that we shall know the
false prophets by their fruits (Matt. 7:16); for when we find grapes
on the vine, we dare not say, like you people do, that we have plucked
them from thorns.”
He laughingly said to me: “Do we say that?” _Jac._ “Do you not? do you
not say we are evil, vile and useless trees, that must be cast into the
fire? And yet you have confessed to me, that our fruits are good, but
that it is our faith.” _Inq._ “It is true, you do good works before
men; but the inward is good for nothing, for your faith is not good.”
_Jac._ “Our works spring from our faith; the vessel cannot give forth
anything but what is in it; hence the Lord calls those a generation of
vipers, who confessed that the fruit was good, and the tree corrupt,
saying: ‘Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make
the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt.’ Luke 6:45; Matt. 12:34.
_Inq._ “Therefore you would say that our bishops and pastors can have
no good faith, unless their works are good.” _Jac._ “My lord, I can
answer with Paul: ‘They profess that they know God; but in works they
deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work
reprobate’ (Tit. 1:16); and such pastors I will not follow.” _Inq._
“No, no, Jacques, they are not so abominable as you think, though they
are also sinners, even as we all are.” _Jac._ “My lord, you know better
than you say; for I should be ashamed to discover the shameful acts of
this people, who boast of being the light and salt of the earth, and
the leaders of the blind and ignorant.” _Inq._ “What shameful acts?
tell me freely.” _Jac._ “My lord, since you desire me to tell you,
you know very well yourself, what unnatural whoredom, too shameful to
mention, such as was committed by Sodom and Gomorrah, those of Rome
commit, namely, the Pope, who boasts of being a holy man, and God upon
earth, and the cardinals and bishops that are there; to say nothing of
the pride, pomp and wickedness of which these holy people are guilty.”
_Inq._ “It is true, that there are some who commit great abomination
before God, so that it is abominable of some; but, Jacques, we must
not condemn the good on account of the bad; they are not all bad;
there are also some that are righteous.” _Jac._ “I believe that the
righteous are thinly sown; for from my youth I have lived mostly among
priests, canons and monks, and it were a shame to relate the abounding
wickedness which I have seen there.” _Inq._ “My son, not all, not
all.” _Jac._ “My lord, so far as I have ever seen and known, I do not
know that I have seen a single one walk after the rule prescribed to a
bishop or pastor, even as you know better yourself what occurred two or
three weeks ago in this city of N. in the convent of the Jacobines.”
The monks or Jacobines had driven their prior out of the convent,
because he had reproved them for their licentiousness and wickedness.
_Inq._ “Jacques, though there have been wicked popes, cardinals,
bishops, priests, and monks, there have, on the other hand, also been
good ones; do you not know that the good grain is not without chaff?
No, no, there are good grains and good pastors, though you do not know
them.” _Jac._ “Show me then but a single upright pastor, such as I
demanded of you, according to the Scriptures, and I will follow him.”
_Inq._ “Though I should name them to you, you do not know them any
way, and will not believe me; but even if it were true, namely, that
they are wicked, yet they have the true faith.” _Jac._ “I hold to the
testimony of Paul, that light has no communion with darkness.” 2 Cor.
6:14. _Inq._ “Do you mean to say then, that a man who commits evil
works cannot have the true faith?” _Jac._ “If a man that has received
knowledge, yield himself to the commission of wickedness, his faith
will not last long, or will soon be darkened.” _Inq._ “Who has told
you this?” _Jac._ “Paul writes to the Romans, that some held the truth
in unrighteousness, since that which might be known of God, God had
showed them; and though they knew God, they glorified him not as God,
neither were thankful; wherefore God gave them up to the lusts of their
hearts, filled with darkness.” Romans 1:18. _Inq._ “Paul speaks there
of the philosophers, who turned to the heavens, stars, planets, etc.,
for guidance.” _Jac._ “That is all the same to me, of whom he speaks,
philosophers or others; but Paul shows that through their works and
ingratitude their hearts were filled with darkness. Moreover, he also
says: ‘Because they received not the love of the truth, that they might
be saved,... for this cause God shall send them strong delusion;’ which
also came to pass.” 2 Thess. 2:10,11. _Inq._ “Did not Judas Iscariot
commit a wicked work in delivering up the Son of God?” _Jac._ “The
Scripture says that it would have been better, if he had not been
born.” Matt. 26:24. _Inq._ “Yet he had a true faith; what do you say
to this?” _Jac._ “Had he a true faith before or afterwards?” _Inq._
“Before and also afterwards, though he was a thief.” _Jac._ “Though
his heart was wicked, yet his walk was good, so that they did not dare
think that it was he who should commit the deed, but all asked: ‘Is it
I? is it I?’” Mark 14:19. _Inq._ “Look also at Demas, did he not have
the true faith? Yet his heart was bound up in things of this world;
nevertheless, Paul regarded him as a brother.” Col. 4:14. _Jac._ “It is
true that Paul regarded him for a time as a brother and companion in
the work of the Lord; but after he said that Demas had forsaken him,
having loved this present world, and no longer calls him a brother or
companion.” 2 Tim. 4:10. _Inq._ “That you do not know.” _Jac._ “The
Scriptures say nothing about it.” _Inq._ “That proves nothing either
way; you must believe that a sinful man can have the faith and the
Gospel; do you think that we must therefore not hear him, and believe
his word?” _Jac._ “My lord, wherein do you reprove Paul of sin, after
he had received the knowledge of the truth?” _Inq._ “Is it not written:
‘He that saith that he hath no sin, maketh God a liar?’” 1 John 1:10.
_Jac._ “True, but it is also written in the same epistle: ‘Whosoever
is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him:
and he cannot sin because he is born of God.’ 1 John 3:9. And Paul
said: ‘How shall we, that are dead to sin, live unto sin’” Rom. 6:2.
_Inq._ “Paul there simply asks a question; but do you therefore think
that he did not sin?” _Jac._ “You know that Paul said that Christ was
living in him; did Christ then commit sin? Gal. 2:20. He also exhorts
the Corinthians, to follow him, even as he had followed Christ, and
calls God and men to witnesses, how holily and justly, and unblamably
he had walked among them, 1 Cor. 11:1; 1 Thess. 2:10. Of what sin
then, my lord, will you accuse Paul?” _Inq._ “Nevertheless, he was a
sinner; this you certainly cannot deny.” _Jac._ “I do not want to deny
it; for he says himself, that he was the chief of sinners, blasphemers
and persecutors while in unbelief, but not after he had received the
knowledge [of the truth]. 1 Timothy 1:15. Well then; but what I ask you
for, are pastors that are blameless in life, doctrine and conversation;
for I well know that all men are born in sin; but he that abideth in
sin, hath not known God.” Ps. 51:5; 1 John 3:6. _Inq._ “You must not
thus understand the passage; for a sinful man does have knowledge of
God.” _Jac._ “Yes, with the mouth, or it would not be true what the
apostle Peter has said, that he that has not the fear of God, and
brotherly and living love, is blind, and gropes with the hand for the
way. Tit. 1:16; 2 Pet. 1:9. _Inq._ “No, he says that he is like the
blind.” _Jac._ “My lord, with your permission, he says that such a
blind man gropes for the way, which is a sign that he has not found it;
now, shall I follow such people?” _Inq._ “Your Menno, is he so just,
holy and blameless?” _Jac._ “I have not had sufficient intercourse
with him, to find anything blamable in him.” _Inq._ “With whom then
have you had your intercourse? can nothing be said of your teacher?
is he unblamable?” _Jac._ “My lord, can you produce anything against
him, or accuse him of anything?” _Inq._ “I do not know the rascal.”
_Jac._ “Then do not defame him; for you would find it a difficult task
to prove that he is what you call him.” _Inq._ “This would not be
difficult for me to do; for he has seduced enough people to be called
this.” _Jac._ “My lord, take care that you are not yourself one who
seduces the people.” _Inq._ “Is he not a native of a certain village
in Zealand?” He named the village, but I have forgotten it. _Jac._ “I
do not know where he was born.” _Inq._ “What kind of a looking man was
he? what sort of beard and clothes did he have?” _Jac._ “My lord, you
are certainly inquiring very diligently for him; I think you would like
to betray him; do you know no other way, my lord?” _Inq._ “I wish him
no harm.” _Jac._ “I hear that you say so; nevertheless, you would like
to have him here in my place, would you not, my lord?” _Inq._ “Yes, if
he would become converted.” _Jac._ “And if he would not be converted
to your views, would you not place him to the stake?” _Inq._ “I should
leave this to the Judge.” _Jac._ “Well, would you not then wish him
harm? would you want to have this done to you?”
Perceiving that he could not answer me, and that two or three persons
were listening at the door, besides the jailer, who is always with the
prisoners, he commenced to give me a long talk, saying that I must
not inquire so deeply into the Scriptures, but suffer myself to be
instructed by those more learned than I, and that I must believe that
a sinful man, of wicked life could have the faith as well as another,
and that I must hear his words, but not do after his works. _Jac._
“Must I believe this by the Scriptures, or without the Scriptures?”
_Inq._ “I have proven it to you by the Scriptures.” _Jac._ “By what
Scriptures?” _Inq._ “By the cases of Judas and Demas, who had faith,
and yet were wicked of life.” _Jac._ “My lord, it appears to me that
our words are mere child’s play; have I not replied to this, and proven
to you, that it becomes us not to take those who have apostatized
from the faith for leaders and pastors?” _Inq._ “Where do you expect
to find blameless pastors such as you demand? do you not see that the
world is full of knavery?” _Jac._ “If you do not know any, I know
some, and such I will follow.” _Inq._ “Where are they?” _Jac._ “They
are unknown to you; do you not know that when the prophet thought that
all the righteous in Israel had been slain by Ahab and Jezebel, the
Lord said that there were seven thousand left yet, who had not bowed
their knees unto the idol Baal.” 1 Kings 19:10. _Inq._ “It was because
of the persecution raging at that time, that they were so scattered.”
_Jac._ “Thus it is yet at the present day on account of persecution,
that they are scattered, and unknown to the world. _Inq._ “But must
you for a Menno, or any other single individual, who seem to lead a
good life, must you therefore follow him, and forsake all the other
bishops and pastors, who do not walk just as uprightly?” _Jac._ “My
lord, do you think that if Ahab, the King of Israel had forsaken the
counsel of the four hundred prophets, and followed the single advice
of poor Micaiah, he would have done amiss?” _Inq._ “Certainly not; for
Micaiah was a prophet of God.” _Jac._ “Did not the others say that they
were too? and did they not smite poor Micaiah on the cheek, because he
prophesied against them, and say to him: ‘Do you think that the Spirit
of God has departed from us?’” _Inq._ “They boasted of the Holy Spirit,
but falsely; for they did not have him?” _Jac._ “Ahab did not know
that; for because Micaiah had alone prophesied against the four hundred
prophets, the poor man of God was cast into prison on scanty bread
and water, till Ahab should return from the battle at Ramoth-gilead;
but he found that the counsel of the four hundred prophets cost him
his life, as Micaiah had foretold him.” _Inq._ “The events recorded
in these passages occurred in former times.” _Jac._ “Paul says that
all was written for our learning; and the same things still happen at
the present day.” Rom, 15:4. _Inq._ “Well then, then you will not hear
or follow any pastors, except they practice what they teach?” _Jac._
“No; for it is written: ‘The light of the body is the eye; if thine
eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness.’” Matt. 6:22.
_Inq._ “Then you will not follow the advice of Jesus Christ, namely,
to do after their words, and not after their works.” _Jac._ “To whom
does he say this?” _Inq._ “To his disciples.” _Jac._ “Of whom does he
say it?” _Inq._ “Jesus Christ says: ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit
on Moses’ seat: all therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that
observe and do; but do not ye after their works.’” Matt. 23:1,2. _Jac._
“What kind of a seat was it, wooden or stone?” _Inq._ “It was the seat
that was there.” _Jac._ “How could so many people sit in one seat?
was it so large? or was it not the law Christ alluded to?” _Inq._ “It
is the same thing, the law which they proclaimed.” _Jac._ “The law
was a command of God, and not of men, and when Christ said this, he
did not choose them to feed or lead his flock.” _Inq._ “When he said:
Do after their words, and not after their works, did he not appoint
them pastors?” _Jac._ “Have you not read what the Lord says: ‘Except
your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and
Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.’ Matt.
5:20. Behold, here they are already excluded; how then shall they lead
others?” _Inq._ “Do only after their words.” _Jac._ “Have you no other
pastors among you, to proclaim the word of God, than such scribes and
Pharisees, whom God has threatened with so many curses? Does not the
prophet say: Blessed is the man that has not sat among the ungodly? Ps.
1:1. And Christ admonishes us to beware of their leaven.” Matt. 16:6.
_Inq._ “You must not understand it thus, but believe that an ungodly
man can indeed speak good things.” _Jac._ “It is written: ‘Praise is
not seemly in the mouth of the ungodly, because they are not sent of
God.’ Sir. 15:9. ‘And how shall they preach, except they be sent?’”
Romans 10:15. _Inq._ “It is true, it is not seemly, but he does not
say that it is not good.” _Jac._ “If it is not seemly, then it is not
acceptable; for what repentance can an impenitent man proclaim? For,
if a thief admonish his companion not to steal any more, will his
word have any effect? will not his companion say: If it is wrong to
do it, why do you do it yourself. Rom. 2:21. Ye hypocrites, cast out
the beam out of your own eyes, and then shall you see clearly the dust
in my eyes.” Matt. 7:5. _Inq._ “You pervert every Scripture into the
contrary, according to your own notion and understanding; you must not
build upon yourself so much, but subject your understanding to the
understanding of those that are wiser than you are.” _Jac._ “My lord, I
always speak, with your permission, that if anything better is proven
to me, I will follow it.”
He arose and said: “It is time for me to go; see that you consider the
matter well, and pray diligently to God.” _Jac._ “I know of nothing
to consider, since you cannot prove to me anything different.” _Inq._
“What should I prove to you?” _Jac._ “I have asked you to show to me
what pastors I must follow, and whether they are such as the Scriptures
decree that they ought to be in life, doctrine and conversation.”
_Inq._ “Follow those whom your parents followed.” Thereupon he left me.
Here I finished writing, because I was finally surprised by many
persons and gainsayers.
This confession of Jacques was translated from the French into the
Dutch.
* * * * *
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile
you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you
falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your
reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets which were before
you. Matt. 5:11,12.
HOW JACQUES D’AUCHY WAS BETRAYED, APPREHENDED, AND FELL INTO THE HANDS
OF THE TYRANTS, AND WITH WHAT PUNISHMENT THE RIGHTEOUS GOD VISITED THIS
TYRANT AND TRAITOR--A MEMORABLE AND INSTRUCTIVE EXAMPLE TO ALL TYRANTS
AND TRAITORS.
There was a councilor at Harlingen, by the name of Mr. de Wael, who
very diligently sought Jacques, addressed him in a friendly manner,
and invited him to his house, saying that he had a letter for him.
When Jacques arrived there, he cordially welcomed him, and urged him
much to be his guest, seeming to be kindled with great love for old
acquaintance’ sake. When he learned that Jacques could not stay, he,
with friendly words, but the heart of a Judas, asked him to come again,
and bring of his wares and work with him, ostensibly for the purpose
of buying of him, Jacques being a peddler. In the meantime he secretly
sent a messenger to Leeuwarden, to the council, for a commissary and
a bailiff. When Jacques came again to him, he affably greeted him,
sending in the meantime for the bailiff. When the latter arrived, the
traitor malignantly said: “Apprehend him, behold, this is the man.”
Thus they handled him with great severity, saying: “Hold still,” and
searched him all over.
Then Jacques said: “O my lord, what have you done, that you have thus
betrayed me, who trusted you with my life and all my property? Why
do you seek my life, and thirst thus for my blood?” He replied: “Be
content and suffer yourself to be bound: you must go with me to the
prison.” He said he had to do this, to fulfill his oath, and read to
Jacques his cruel, tyrannous mandate. He also made very strict inquiry
for four other men. Jacques replied that he would not betray or deceive
any one, but if he had aught against him, or had heard any one complain
of him, he should tell him of it. The traitor replied that he had
not heard anything of the kind, and that he was not apprehended on
account of any crime, but simply because he had adhered to heresy; he,
moreover, asked him whether he was not an Anabaptist. Jacques denied
having adhered to heresy, and being an Anabaptist, saying that he had
received but one baptism, according to the word of the Lord, upon his
faith. When asked concerning the Roman church, Jacques replied that
it was not of God. Upon this the traitor was seen to sigh deeply,
his countenance simulating great sorrow as he said: “Oh! Jacques,
must you fall into my hands?” Jacques replied: “My lord, I had placed
confidence in you, on account of our old acquaintance, and because I
had intercourse with you so long; but I will gladly and from my heart
forgive you for this, and it is my earnest desire that the Lord may
have mercy upon you.” He thanked Jacques for this favor, opining that
in this he had not sinned before God, since he had to act according to
his oath. Jacques said: “Do you consider this transaction right before
God and men? the time will come when you will find it otherwise.”
Wisdom 5:2. He then sent Jacques into the room and said to him: “You
will be examined at Leeuwarden concerning your faith and doctrine.”
While Jacques was imprisoned there, his wife came to him, upon which
this friend of God was filled with great sorrow and anxiety, beholding
her in such exceeding grief since she was also pregnant. The turnkey
thrust her from him with great cruelty, but many of the bystanders
most heartily wept with her, and entreated the turnkey, saying: “O let
her go to him;” but it could not last long. Jacques said to her: “O my
beloved, go home, and comfort yourself in the Lord; for I am imprisoned
here for the word of God; and it will tend neither to your shame
nor disgrace, since I have injured no one.” She said: “May the Lord
strengthen you in the truth; for after this conflict there is prepared
for you an eternal crown. O that I could die with you, and inherit that
blissful life with you, then my heart would rejoice.” Jacques said: “O
sister in the Lord, let not this grieve you, though I must go a little
before you; it is the Lord’s will.” The turnkey could not bear this,
but said: “Begone, quick!” Thereupon Jacques entreated him, saying:
“O let us alone with God for a little while.” And thus these two dear
lambs were separated, but hope to meet again at the resurrection of the
just, where wailing and parting will be heard no more forever. Philip.
3:11; Rev. 7:17; 21:4; Is. 25:8.
Having, through the grace of God, undergone and endured manifold
assaults, by way of numerous examinations and threats from the
bloodthirsty, he died in great steadfastness for the testimony of
Jesus. He was not put to death at the place of execution, but secretly
murdered by night. Until quite recently trustworthy persons were still
living, who early in the morning, after the night in the forepart of
which he had been murdered, saw him in his leather clothes, lying dead
in his blood. He now rests under the altar of Jesus, awaiting, with
God’s chosen, a blessed resurrection and eternal life.